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6 DaysStarts In
Arenal Volcano NPRoute
Arenal Volcano NP, Papagayo Peninsula
Costa Rica's dual personality is on full display in this six-day itinerary, pairing Arenal's volcanic rainforest with Guanacaste's laid-back Pacific coastline. You'll open with two days at the foot of Arenal Volcano, crossing hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, chasing La Fortuna Waterfall, and soaking in natural hot springs. From there, a private transfer carries you west to the coast for three days split between beach time, a cultural deep-dive into Guanacaste's culinary traditions, and a fully open leisure day for surfing, snorkeling, or simply doing nothing at all. It's a well-balanced first trip to Costa Rica — equal parts adventure and unwinding, with the country's volcanoes, rainforest, and shoreline all genuinely represented.
Includes
- Driver/Guide: Private as per itinerary
- Keytours 24-hour emergency assistance
- Private arrival and departure transfers as per itinerary
- Accommodations of your choice
- Sightseeing tours and/or activites of your choice
Excludes
- Items of a personal nature
- All other items not mentioned as included
- Transfers not mentioned in the itinerary
- Travel insurance; please inquire with your Keytours travel consultant
- Gratuities for drivers, guides, and escorts
Itinerary
Day
1
1
Day 1
Day 1: Arrival & First Light in Arenal
You land at Liberia International Airport and a private transfer carries you into the lush Arenal region, home to Costa Rica's most iconic volcano. Your accommodations sit surrounded by rainforest, with the volcano's near-perfect cone visible on a clear day and mountain views in every direction. Spend the rest of the afternoon unwinding after travel — wander the grounds, soak in one of the region's natural hot springs, or take a short walk into the nearby town of La Fortuna, known for its laid-back energy and easy access to the volcano's trails. It's a gentle, scenery-forward introduction to a country built around its wild landscapes, and a good early night before tomorrow's full day outdoors.
Day
2
2
Day 2
Day 2: A Full Day Among Arenal's Natural Wonders
A full-day guided tour takes you deep into Arenal's landscape, starting with a walk across a series of hanging bridges suspended over the rainforest canopy — a genuinely different vantage point on the jungle below. From there, the La Fortuna Waterfall drops nearly 200 feet into a turquoise pool, and Arenal Volcano National Park's trails wind through old lava fields shaped by the volcano's last major eruption in 1968. Your guide points out wildlife along the way — sloths, toucans, and howler monkeys are all fair game — and narrates the region's volcanic history as you go. Lunch breaks up the day, and the evening is yours to return to the hot springs or simply rest.
Day
3
3
Day 3
Day 3: Onward to Guanacaste's Pacific Coast
After breakfast, a private transfer carries you west to Guanacaste, trading Arenal's rainforest for the Pacific coastline Costa Rica is equally known for. The shift in scenery is immediate — dry tropical forest gives way to golden sand and open ocean as you settle into your beachfront accommodations. Spend the afternoon adjusting to the coast's slower rhythm: a swim, a walk along the shore, or simply time by the pool with the sound of the surf nearby. Guanacaste's easy, sun-drenched pace is a deliberate counterpoint to the last two days' adventure, and today is built to let you settle into it.
Day
4
4
Day 4
Day 4: The Flavors of Guanacaste
A full-day tour turns today toward Guanacaste's culture rather than its coastline, with visits to traditional towns where old-guard Costa Rican life is still very much intact. Sample homemade tortillas pressed by hand, strong local coffee, and other regional specialties, while meeting artisans who've kept traditional crafts and techniques alive for generations. It's a grounding, unhurried look at a side of Costa Rica most beach-focused trips skip entirely. Return to the coast for an evening at leisure — a beachfront dinner as the sun drops into the Pacific is hard to improve on.
Day
5
5
Day 5
Day 5: A Leisure Day on the Pacific Coast
Your last full day is left intentionally open. Spend it however suits you: stretched out on the beach, swimming in the surf, or booking an optional catamaran cruise or snorkeling trip along the coast. Guanacaste has a strong pull for the more active as well — surfing and horseback riding are both easy to arrange locally, if you'd rather stay in motion. However you spend the day, save some energy for its close: a Pacific sunset from the beach is the natural, unscripted way to mark your final evening in Costa Rica.
Day
6
6
Day 6
Day 6: Departure from Liberia
A private transfer takes you to Liberia International Airport for your flight home, with plenty of time on the drive to look back on the trip's range — a volcano and its lava fields, hanging bridges over rainforest canopy, a coastline built for slowing down, and a day spent among the people keeping Guanacaste's culinary traditions alive. Six days rarely covers this much ground, but Costa Rica has a way of making it feel unhurried anyway.
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